Improvement in combined tags and seals



E. A. LOCKE.

COMBINED TAG AND SEAL. No.172,927. Patented. Feb.1,1876.

NJETERS, PHOTOLI'H'IOGRAFKER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES EDWARD A. LooKE, on BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CO MBINED TAGS AND SEALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,927., dated February 1, 1876; application filed December 28, 1875. p

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. LOOKE, of

the city of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Tag and Seal; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a front view of the tag and seal, permanently affixed to each other without the Wire loop. Fig. 2 is an end view of the lower parts of the tag and seal, showing the perforations in the. seal portion for the passage of the shackle-wire. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line as m. Fig. 4 is the device as when applied to a package and sealed. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. i Fig. 6 is a rear view of the device as when applied, showing the depressions in the tag for the wire.

The object of this invention is to produce an improved sealing device by combining with the well-known shackle-seal, consisting of a wire loop and leaden seal, an identifying device permanently fixed, by casting on or otherwise to the soft-metal seal.

Identifyin g tags have been used strung loosely upon the sh acklewire, bu t in those cases it is obvious that the original seal could be removed and another substituted without dis- 1 turbing the integrity of the tag. In the case of my combined tag and seal, the two being permanently joined together, as seen in Figs.

1, 4, and 6, wherein E represents the tag and F the soft-metal seal, the one cannot be removed or tampered with without affecting the other; and any attempt at a fraudulent substitution in place either of the original tag or As will be readily perceived my improved device is peculiarly adapted to those cases where the sealed goods. are to pass through the hands of several inspectors before reachw iug theirfinal destination. In such cases the tag is provided with identifying marks or numbers, or both,,applied thereto by the common methods of printing, stamping, embossing, or perforating, either before or while in the custody of the inspectors. In the latter case the particular identifying mark of each inspector is successively applied until the sealed package reach es the officer whose duty it is to remove the seals.

Examples of such identifying marks are clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4., and 6.

After final removal from the package the device may be preserved for reference, as its condition will then clearly indicate whether each inspector has performed or neglected his duty.

I claim as my. invention- 1. The combination of the perforated collarsea-l F with the tag E, constructed and permanently affixed to each other, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with the wire G, of the combined tag and seal, constructed and arranged substantia-lly'as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I hereby subscribe my signature and affix my'seal in presence of two attesting witnesses.

EDWARD A. LOOKE. [1..- s.] Witnesses:

J. M. TIGHE, I JAMES G. LANDER. 

